Don't let the outside fool you. - Review of Broadlands, Romsey, England - TripAdvisor “Don't let the outside fool you.” Reviewed August 12, 2015 The outside of Broadlands is pretty well a rectangular box with a Greek style portico and columns tacked on each side. But the insides are far more interesting. But let's start at the beginning: You enter through the grand gates, and down the drive across parkland. When you park you still hav'n't seen the house beyond a lot of trees - meaning a fair walk to the house. If disabled I suggest phoning ahead to check if you may drive nearer. The walk takes you past the outside of the kitchen garden wall, then you arrive at a courtyard with stable, couch-house, laundry, etc. Having paid the smiley ladies sat in the stable you wait in a coach house with a display and films about Lord Mountbatten, for he was the most famous owner of the house. Prime Minister Viscount Palmerston was another notable owner. Collected in small parties by a guide you are ushered from the front, through a series of rooms, and finally out to a place where you may explore the lawn and the passing river Test.

The house is still occupied by Mountbatten's descendents, so quiet and respectful is appropriate in the rooms, which are not only magnificently decorated and furnished, but also full of paintings and photos of their relatives - like the royal family of UK (and other countries). At least one room had a ceiling with painted scenes by Anjelica Kaufman. I loved the display of Mountbatten's ships, in diaramas set in the wall, and lit like fish tanks. The sculptures vary from ancient Greek through to modern works, imaginatively displayed. The guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. The only minor downsides were very limited opening times (understandable), and lack of any catering beyond a free water dispenser. No interior photography and no gift shop to make up the deficit with postcards and books. Visited July 2015 “Beautiful interiors” Reviewed August 10, 2015 Lovely visit to Broadlands today. I arrived late in the afternoon, was the last visitor of the day, so had excellent guide Trea to myself. The interiors are gorgeous, although outside of House a bit shabby.Probably of most interest to those interested in Royal Family.

Mountbatten was gt-grandson of Q Victoria. Our present Queen & Prince Philip, and Charles & Diana spent part of honeymoons here. Shame no tea room, but understandable as House only open part of year. I went to nearby "Costa" on way back to M'way. Only very small section of lawn going down to picturesque R Test open to public, so difficult to take a decent photo of house. If a bit more of grounds were open to public would have given 5 stars. Distance from car park to House NOT too far, as others have said, although I suppose that depends on your mobility. Good value for £8. Visited August 2015 Reviewed August 6, 2015 via mobile We were unsure about going here because of previous poor reviews. However, we were very pleasantly surprised. It does not have all the big National Trust type trimmings of shop and tea room. Rather you get a more personalised guided tour during limited visiting hours into a lived-in home rather than a visit to a museum. It does have some picnic tables and toilets around the car park in the grounds.

The house has been home to both one of Queen Victoria's Prime Ministers, Lord Palmerston as well as to a cousin of Prince Philip, Lord Mountbatten. There is a good DVD of Mountbatten talking about his extended family including the Tsar and Tsarina of Russia and his close friendship with the then Prince of Wales. Our tour was just three people and led by a friendly and informative guide Trea who took us around the ground floor rooms and told us much about the fine objects as well as providing good family contextual information. The rooms were warm and inviting, full of interesting items and many offering beautiful views across the grounds and a sizeable stretch of the River Test. For £10, I thought this was good value and provided a low key and therefore more unique visitor experience. Be lovely if they could open up more of the grounds for walkers on a regular basis. Visited August 2015 Reviewed July 28, 2015 via mobile We have just returned from a most pleasant 1hr guided tour around the absolutely charming Broadlands. It is clearly very much still a family home and the tour guided us around in such a way that we were made to feel very welcome.

We felt very priveliged to be able to view so closely the personal affects of daily life there. We found the history of Broadlands very interesting. There is no tea room but we really didn't see the need. A flask of tea and a picnic in the truly beautiful surroundings would be a perfect way to end a visit. We would like to add that our tour guide Richard was both engaging and informative. Visited July 2015 No gimmicks just a lovely house without commercial trappings - Broadlands, Romsey Traveller Reviews - TripAdvisor “No gimmicks just a lovely house without commercial trappings” Reviewed 24 August 2015 We spent a delightful couple of hours visiting Broadlands on their extended tour. The web site said there are no tea rooms, gift shops etc. the toilets facilities are located in the car park. Really refreshing visit as a result. The house has very limited opening hours weekday afternoons and for a few weeks an extended tour is offered. This is because Lady Brabourne is in residence. We had a superb guide who was very friendly and knowledgable and took us round room by room explaining it's history including previous owners including Lord Mountbatten and Lord Palmerston.

It is also famous for hosting the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh on their honeymoon and more recently by Charles and Diana on theirs. The building is very much lived in and it was great to see the mix of modern and old. All the volunteers we met were very welcoming. I really think the tour was the right length just over 90 minutes so you were not over burdened with information. Not sure the extended tour was worth the difference from the base price as only 1 extra room was visited. However this did not distract us from a very pleasant visit. Visited August 2015 “Don't let the outside fool you.” Reviewed 12 August 2015 The outside of Broadlands is pretty well a rectangular box with a Greek style portico and columns tacked on each side. But the insides are far more interesting. But let's start at the beginning: You enter through the grand gates, and down the drive across parkland. When you park you still hav'n't seen the house beyond a lot of trees - meaning a fair walk to the house. If disabled I suggest phoning ahead to check if you may drive nearer.

The walk takes you past the outside of the kitchen garden wall, then you arrive at a courtyard with stable, couch-house, laundry, etc. Having paid the smiley ladies sat in the stable you wait in a coach house with a display and films about Lord Mountbatten, for he was the most famous owner of the house. Prime Minister Viscount Palmerston was another notable owner. Collected in small parties by a guide you are ushered from the front, through a series of rooms, and finally out to a place where you may explore the lawn and the passing river Test. The house is still occupied by Mountbatten's descendents, so quiet and respectful is appropriate in the rooms, which are not only magnificently decorated and furnished, but also full of paintings and photos of their relatives - like the royal family of UK (and other countries). At least one room had a ceiling with painted scenes by Anjelica Kaufman. I loved the display of Mountbatten's ships, in diaramas set in the wall, and lit like fish tanks. The sculptures vary from ancient Greek through to modern works, imaginatively displayed. The guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful.

The only minor downsides were very limited opening times (understandable), and lack of any catering beyond a free water dispenser. No interior photography and no gift shop to make up the deficit with postcards and books. Visited July 2015 Her Majesty The Queen | The Royal Family Her Majesty The Queen Charities and Patronages About Her Majesty The Queen The Queen has ruled for longer than any other Monarch in British history, becoming a much loved and respected figure across the globe. Her extraordinary reign has seen her travel more widely than any other monarch, undertaking many historic overseas visits. Known for her sense of duty and her devotion to a life of service, she has been an important figurehead for the UK and the Commonwealth during times of enormous social change. Her Majesty continues to carry out a full programme of engagements, from visits to charities and schools, to hosting visiting Heads of State, to leading the nation in Remembrance and celebratory events - all supported by other members of the Royal Family. The Queen sees public and voluntary service as one of the most important elements of her work. The Queen has links - as Royal Patron or President - with over 600 charities, military associations, professional bodies and public service organisations.

These vary from well-established international charities to smaller bodies working in a specialist area or on a local basis only. Her patronages and charities cover a wide range of issues, from opportunities for young people, to the preservation of wildlife and the environment. Having Her Majesty as Royal patron or president provides vital publicity for the work of these organisations, and allows their enormous achievements and contributions to society to be recognised. I think I speak for my generation when I say that the example and continuity provided by The Queen is not only very rare among leaders but a great source of pride and reassurance The Duke of Cambridge Her Majesty supports and encourages achievement in all walks of life through the annual programme of Investitures (at which she presents members of the general public with their honours), Garden Parties, receptions and other awards given in her name, which allow her to say ‘thank you’ to all those who have contributed to the life of the nation and the Commonwealth. The Queen carries out all of her duties against the backdrop of a full personal life which has seen her raise four children and welcome grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren to the Royal Family.

The Duke of Edinburgh has been – in her own words – her ‘strength and stay’ during her reign, whilst other members of the Royal Family continue to offer vital support through their work in the UK and overseas. In this section we look at Her Majesty’s extraordinary life and reign: from a young girl who did not expect to be Queen, to an iconic and celebrated figure who has ruled for more than 60 years. Early life and education When she was born in Mayfair in 1926, Princess Elizabeth (now The Queen) and her family did not expect that she would one day become Monarch. Her Royal Highness was expected to live a relatively normal, if privileged, life with her close-knit and loving family. But everything changed in December 1936 when her uncle – King Edward VIII - abdicated, leaving her father as King, and her as next in line to the throne. The Queen was born at 2.40am on 21 April 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London. She was the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York - who later became King George VI - and Queen Elizabeth.

She was christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary at Buckingham Palace on 29 May that year. At the time she stood third in the line of succession to the throne after Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), and her father, The Duke of York. The Princess was christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace. She was named after her mother, while her two middle names are those of her paternal great-grandmother, Queen Alexandra, and paternal grandmother, Queen Mary. Family life The Princess's early years were spent at 145 Piccadilly, the London house taken by her parents shortly after her birth, and at White Lodge in Richmond Park. She also spent time at the country homes of her paternal grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary, and her mother's parents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore. In 1930, Princess Elizabeth gained a sister, with the birth of Princess Margaret Rose. The family of four was very close. When she was six years old, her parents took over Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park as their own country home.

In the grounds of Royal Lodge Princess Elizabeth had her own small house, Y Bwthyn Bach (the Little Cottage), which was given to her by the people of Wales in 1932. Princess Elizabeth was now first in line to the throne, and a figure of even more intense public interest The Abdication of King Edward VIII Princess Elizabeth's quiet family life came to an end in 1936, when her grandfather, King George V, died. His eldest son came to the throne as King Edward VIII, but, before the end of the year, King Edward VIII had decided to give up the throne in order to marry the woman he loved, Mrs Wallis Simpson. Upon his abdication, Princess Elizabeth's father acceded to the throne as King George VI, and in 1937 the two Princesses attended their parents' Coronation in Westminster Abbey. Princess Elizabeth was now first in line to the throne, and a figure of even more intense public interest. The war years In 1940, at the height of the Blitz, the young Princesses were moved for their safety to Windsor Castle, where they spent most of the war years.

<a href="">" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen&gt; It was a time of austerity and anxiety for the whole country, including the Royal Family. But at Christmas time there was a period of light relief when the young Princesses put on pantomimes with the children of members of staff for the enjoyment of her family and employees of the Royal Household. Education Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret were educated at home like many girls from wealthy families at that time. After her father succeeded to the throne in 1936 and Princess Elizabeth became heir presumptive (first in line to the throne), she started to study constitutional history and law as preparation for her future role. She received tuition from her father, as well as sessions with Henry Marten, the Vice-Provost of Eton. She was also instructed in religion by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Princess Elizabeth also learned French from a number of French and Belgian governesses. It is a skill which has stood The Queen in good stead, as she often has cause to use it when speaking to ambassadors and heads of state from French-speaking countries, and when visiting French-speaking areas of Canada. Princess Elizabeth also studied art and music, learned to ride, and became a strong swimmer.

She won the Children's Challenge Shield at London's Bath Club when she was thirteen. Princess Elizabeth enrolled as a Girl Guide when she was eleven, and later became a Sea Ranger. Marriage and family The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh's enduring marriage has seen them support each other through many years of Royal duties, and has produced four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Though the early years of their marriage saw them living a relatively normal life as a naval officer and wife, The Queen's Accession changed everything as Her Majesty took on her new role, and The Duke of Edinburgh a new status in support of her work. +6 Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip first met when they attended the wedding of Prince Philip's cousin, Princess Marina of Greece to The Duke of Kent, who was an uncle of Princess Elizabeth, in 1934. Their engagement was announced on 9 July 1947 and the couple were married in Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947. The event was fairly simple, as Britain was still recovering from the war, and Princess Elizabeth had to collect clothing coupons for her dress, like any other young bride.

They spent their honeymoon at Broadlands, Hampshire, the home of Lord Mountbatten, and at Birkhall, Balmoral. In a letter from Princess Elizabeth's father, King George VI following the wedding, he wrote about his sadness at giving her away, and his joy at her evident happiness with Prince Philip: 'I was so proud of you & thrilled at having you so close to me on our long walk in Westminster Abbey, but when I handed your hand to the Archbishop I felt that I had lost something very precious. You were so calm & composed during the Service and said your words with such conviction, that I knew everything was all right ... I have watched you grow up all these years with pride under the skilful direction of Mummy, who, as you know is the most marvellous person in the World in my eyes, & I can, I know, always count on you, & now Philip, to help us in our work. Your leaving us has left a great blank in our lives but do remember that your old home is still yours & do come back to it as much & as often as possible.

I can see that you are sublimely happy with Philip which is right but don't forget us is the wish of Your ever loving & devoted Papa' Family life Prince Charles, now The Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the throne, was born in 1948, and his sister, Princess Anne, now The Princess Royal, two years later. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip lived in Malta between 1949 and 1951, where Prince Philip was an officer in the Mediterranean Fleet. After Princess Elizabeth became Queen, their third child, Prince Andrew, arrived in 1960 and the fourth, Prince Edward, in 1964. Prince Andrew and Prince Edward were the first children to be born to a reigning monarch since Queen Victoria had her family. Did you know? Princess Elizabeth's platinum and diamond engagement ring was made by the jewellers, Philip Antrobus Ltd, using diamonds from a tiara belonging to Prince Philip's mother. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh's grandchildren are Peter and Zara Phillips (b. 1977 and 1981); Prince William of Wales and Prince Henry of Wales (b.

1982 and 1984); Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie of York (b. 1988 and 1990); and The Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn (b.2003 and 2007). Their great grandchildren are Savannah Phillips (b. 2010) and Isla Phillips (b. 2012), children of Peter and Autumn Phillips; Prince George (b. 2013) and Princess Charlotte (b, 2015), children of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Mia Tindall (b. 2014), daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall. In 2015, The Duke of Cambridge wrote fondly of his grandmother in the preface to 'Elizabeth II: The Steadfast', a biography of The Queen by Lord Hurd: In 2007 The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh became the first couple in the Royal Family to celebrate their Diamond Wedding anniversary (60 years).

During a speech at the lunch to mark their Golden Wedding at London's Guildhall in 1997 Her Majesty said of His Royal Highness: ‘He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments. He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim or we shall ever know.’ Family life has remained an essential support to The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. The family usually spends Christmas together at Sandringham in Norfolk, attending church on Christmas Day. In 2002, her Golden Jubilee year, Her Majesty spoke of her family's support, especially following the recent deaths of her mother Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her sister Princess Margaret: 'I take this opportunity to mention the strength I draw from my own family. The Duke of Edinburgh has made an invaluable contribution to my life over these past fifty years, as he has to so many charities and organisations with which he has been involved. We both have a special place in our hearts for our children. I want to express my admiration for The Prince of Wales and for all he has achieved for this country.

Our children, and all my family, have given me such love and unstinting help over the years, and especially in recent months.' The Duke of Edinburgh as Consort The Duke of Edinburgh has been a devoted companion or 'Consort' to The Queen in her official duties since she acceded the throne in 1952. In September of that year, shortly after her Accession to the throne, Her Majesty granted him precedence next to herself; and on 22 February 1957 she created him a Prince of the United Kingdom so that his title was from then on His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. In 1953 The Duke of Edinburgh became the first peer to ‘do homage’ or pay his respects to The Queen at her Coronation, immediately after the Archbishops and Bishops. From 1967 he sat on a consort’s throne placed next to that of The Queen at the State Opening of Parliament. In 2009 The Duke of Edinburgh became the longest serving British consort, a distinction previously held by Queen Charlotte, George III’s consort. Accession and Coronation On 6 February 1952, King George VI died following a prolonged illness.

Princess Elizabeth immediately acceded to the throne, becoming Queen Elizabeth II and taking on all of the responsibilities which came with her new title. Later in the year, the date was set for the Coronation at Westminster Abbey and preparations began for the spectacular ceremony. In 1952, King George VI's health was poor, and illness forced him to abandon a proposed Commonwealth tour. Princess Elizabeth, accompanied by Prince Philip, took his place. On Wednesday 6 February 1952, she received the news of her father's death and her own Accession to the throne while staying in a remote part of Kenya. In an instant, she had ceased to be Princess Elizabeth and was now Queen Elizabeth II. +6 Following the news, the tour was abandoned, and the young Princess flew back to Britain as Queen. She was greeted by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and other officials at the airport before returning to Clarence House, where the Royal Standard was flown for the first time in her reign.

Lord Wakehurst, the last British Governor of New South Wales, made three films about The Queen's Accession and Coronation entitled 'Long to reign over us': <a href="">" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen&gt; <a href="">" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen&gt; <a href="">" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen&gt; The Coronation The Coronation took place in Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953. It was a solemn ceremony conducted by Dr Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury. The Imperial State Crown, worn by The Queen at the Coronation: Representatives of the peers, the Commons and all the great public interests in Britain, the Prime Ministers and leading citizens of the other Commonwealth countries, and representatives of foreign states were present. Crowds of people viewed the procession all along the route, despite heavy rain. The ceremony was also broadcast on radio around the world and, at The Queen's request, on television for the first time.

​Television brought home to hundreds of thousands of people around the Commonwealth the splendour and significance of the Coronation in a way never before possible Television brought home to hundreds of thousands of people around the Commonwealth the splendour and significance of the Coronation in a way never before possible. The Coronation was followed by drives through every part of London, a review of the fleet at Spithead, and visits to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Jubilees and other milestones The Queen’s reign has been punctuated by an unprecedented series of milestones. Her Majesty’s jubilees and birthdays have provided cause for celebration and reflection throughout the remarkable years since her Accession. Such events help reinforce the Sovereign's role as a focus for national identity and unity as people across the Commonwealth come together to mark an important occasion for their Head of State. The Silver Jubilee In 1977 The Queen's Silver Jubilee was marked with celebrations throughout the UK and Commonwealth. The actual anniversary of The Queen's Accession on 6 February 1952 was commemorated in church services throughout that month. The Queen spent the anniversary weekend at Windsor with her family and the full jubilee celebrations began in the summer of 1977.

On 4 May, at the Palace of Westminster, both Houses of Parliament presented loyal addresses to The Queen, who in her reply stressed that the keynote of the jubilee was to be the unity of the nation. During the summer months The Queen embarked on a large scale tour, having decided that she wished to mark her jubilee by meeting as many of her people as possible. No other Sovereign had visited so much of Britain in the course of just three months - the six jubilee tours in the UK and Northern Ireland covered 36 counties. The home tours began in Glasgow on 17 May, with greater crowds than the city had ever seen before. The tours continued throughout England and Wales - in Lancashire over a million people turned out on one day - before culminating in a visit to Northern Ireland. Official overseas visits were also made to Western Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Tasmania, Papua New Guinea, Canada and the West Indies. During the year it was estimated that The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh travelled 56,000 miles. The climax of the national celebrations came in early June.

On the evening of Monday 6 June, The Queen lit a bonfire beacon at Windsor which started a chain of beacons across the country. On Tuesday 7 June, vast crowds saw The Queen drive in the Gold State Coach to St Paul's Cathedral for a Service of Thanksgiving attended by heads of state from around the world and former prime ministers of the UK. Afterwards The Queen and members of the Royal Family attended a lunch at the Guildhall, in which The Queen made a speech. She declared, 'My Lord Mayor, when I was twenty-one I pledged my life to the service of our people and I asked for God's help to make good that vow. Although that vow was made in my salad days, when I was green in judgement, I do not regret nor retract one word of it.' An estimated 500 million people watched on television as the procession returned down the Mall. Back at Buckingham Palace The Queen made several balcony appearances. Street parties and village parties started up all over the country: in London alone 4,000 were reported to have been held.

The final event of the central week of celebrations was a river progress down the Thames from Greenwich to Lambeth on Thursday 9 June, emulating the ceremonial barge trips of Elizabeth I. After The Queen had opened the Silver Jubilee Walkway and the new South Bank Jubilee Gardens, the journey ended with a firework display, and a procession of lighted carriages took The Queen back to Buckingham Palace for more balcony appearances to a cheering crowd. The Queen's Silver Jubilee Appeal was set up in 1977, and gave the nation an opportunity to show its affection for Her Majesty and its gratitude for her dedicated service over 25 years. The Queen chose that the Appeal should focus on raising funds to support young people and, in particular, on encouraging and helping young people to serve others in the community. The Queen's Silver Jubilee Trust (now operating simply as The Queen's Trust) has made grants of over £80m, funding projects that help young people help others. Its emphasis is in education and personal development, in and out of school, in low-income communities across the UK.

For more information, please visit The Golden Jubilee A packed programme of events took place in 2002 to celebrate fifty years of The Queen's reign. Six key Jubilee themes shaped events: Celebration, Community, Service, Past and future, Giving thanks and Commonwealth. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh undertook extensive tours of the Commonwealth and the UK, leading to an extraordinarily busy year for the royal couple. Her Majesty and His Royal Highness visited Jamaica, New Zealand, Australia and Canada as well as every region of the UK, from Falmouth in Cornwall to the Isle of Skye. The royal couple attended a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister at No 10 Downing Street and a session of the Joint Houses of Houses Parliament in Westminster Hall at which Her Majesty addressed both Houses. They also gave a dinner for representatives of the Armed Services at Windsor Castle and visited the Armed Forces in Portsmouth. Gratitude, respect and pride, these words sum up how I feel about the people of this country and the Commonwealth - and what this Golden Jubilee means to me The Queen The central focus for the year was the Jubilee weekend in June 2002 which began with a classical music concert in the gardens at Buckingham Palace.

There was a Jubilee Church Service at St George's Chapel in Windsor and a National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral which followed a Ceremonial Procession from Buckingham Palace. Events culminated in a pop concert at Buckingham Palace with performers including Paul McCartney, Bryan Adams, Elton John and Shirley Bassey. The evening ended with a spectacular fireworks display and The Queen lighting the National Beacon, the last in a string of 2,006 beacons which had been lit in a chain across the Commonwealth. During a lunch at Guildhall, London, on 4 June 2002, Her Majesty made a speech in which she thanked the nation for their support throughout her reign: ‘I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you - here in Guildhall, those of you waiting in the Mall and the streets of London, and all those up and down this country and throughout the Commonwealth, who may be watching this on television. Thank you all for your enthusiasm to mark and celebrate these past fifty years.

Gratitude, respect and pride, these words sum up how I feel about the people of this country and the Commonwealth - and what this Golden Jubilee means to me.’ The Queen’s 80th birthday The Queen turned 80 on 21 April 2006 and celebrated her official birthday on 17 June 2006. A number of events took place to celebrate the birthday, both around Her Majesty's actual birthday on 21 April and her official birthday on 17 June. A unique Children's Party at the Palace was held at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the magic of books. 2,000 children were invited, and a stage performance – during which The Queen made a camero appearance – was broadcast live on the BBC. Trooping the Colour marked Her Majesty’s official birthday as it does every year, but to mark the special occasion, a spectacular flypast and a 'feu de joie' (fire of joy) were added to the traditional celebrations. Services of Thanksgiving were held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor and at St Paul's Cathedral, and the latter was followed by a lunch at Mansion House in London.

The Queen celebrated with others of her generation who had similarly led a life of service and dedication at a 'Service over sixty' reception hosted by Her Majesty, which celebrated guests over the age of sixty who have made a significant contribution to national life, as did the Help the Aged Living Legends Awards at Windsor Castle. And on 19 April, guests celebrating their 80th birthdays on the same day as her were invited to Buckingham Palace. The Queen spent her actual birthday meeting the crowds on a walkabout in Windsor before attending a private family dinner at the newly restored Kew Palace, followed by a spectacular fireworks display. Her Majesty received almost 40,000 birthday messages from members of the public during her 80th birthday year. Diamond Wedding anniversary The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on 20 November 2007. Events to mark the low-key anniversary included a Service of Celebration at Westminster Abbey followed by the unveiling of a new Jubilee Walkway panoramic panel in Parliament Square. The couple also returned to the location of their honeymoon: Broadlands in Hampshire, home of Prince Philip’s uncle, Earl Mountbatten, to recreate the photographs which had been taken 60 years previously.

The Diamond Jubilee The Diamond Jubilee was marked with a spectacular central weekend and a series of regional tours throughout the UK and Commonwealth. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh travelled as widely as possible across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, visiting every region during 2012 whilst other members of the Royal family visited all of the Commonwealth realms between them (countries where The Queen is Head of State). Visits included The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Tuvalu. The central weekend began with The Queen’s visit to the Epsom Derby on the Saturday. On the Sunday, ‘Big Jubilee Lunches’ were held across the UK: building on the already popular ‘Big Lunch’ initiative, people were encouraged to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant also took place on the Sunday, with up to 1,000 boats assembled on the Thames from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh travelled in the Royal Barge which formed the centrepiece of the flotilla.

On the Monday, a host of famous faces came together to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee against the backdrop of Buckingham Palace for a concert organised by Take That singer and songwriter Gary Barlow for the BBC. Performers included Will.i.am, Stevie Wonder, Grace Jones and Kylie Minogue. Following the concert, The Queen lit the National Beacon: one of a network of 2,012 Beacons which were lit by communities and individuals throughout the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth. The Diamond Jubilee weekend culminated with a day of celebrations in central London, including a service at St Paul’s Cathedral followed by two receptions, a lunch at Westminster Hall, a Carriage Procession to Buckingham Palace and finally a Balcony appearance, Flypast, and Feu de Joie. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Trust was set up to take donations from those wishing to present a gift to Her Majesty in her Diamond Jubilee year. The funds raised have gone towards initiatives such as Queen's Young Leaders, which supports young people across the Commonwealth who are blazing a trail in their communities.

Longest Reigning Monarch pa-24040589.jpg The day was treated as any other day as The Queen and Prince Philip travelled by steam train from Edinburgh to Tweedbank, where she formally opened the new Scottish Borders Railway, although she did refer to the milestone in her speech saying: Prince Philip and I are very grateful for the warmth of your welcome on this occasion. Many including you, First Minister, have also kindly noted another significance attaching to today, although it is not one to which I have ever aspired. Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones; my own is no exception. But I thank you all, and the many others at home and overseas, for your touching messages of great kindness. The Queen's 90th birthday The Queen celebrated her 90th birthday on 21 April 2016 and her official birthday on 11 June 2016, the second day of three days of national celebrations. Her Majesty's actual birthday was spent in Windsor where she meet well-wishers during a walkabout in the town centre and met others celebrating their 90th birthdays, before unveiling a plaque marking The Queen's Walkway.

Later in the evening, Her Majesty, with The Prince of Wales, lit the principal beacon which set in train a series of over 900 beacons across the country and worldwide to celebrate her momentous milestone. On June 10 2016 The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were joined by members of the Royal Family of a National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral. Prayers at the service were led by people representing aspects of Her Majesty's life and role. Sir David Attenborough read Paddington Bear creator Michael Bond's personal account of growing up to be 90. On June 11 2016, The Queen's official birthday, Her Majesty was joined by members of her family at The Queen’s Birthday Parade on Horse Guards Parade, followed by an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with a Flypast, June 12 2016 saw a huge street party and parade take place on the Mall - The Patron's Lunch - a celebration of over 600 charities and organisations that The Queen was Patron of.

The Duke of Cambridge paid tribute to his 'Granny', speaking of Her Majesty's strong health, relentless energy, her sharp wit and for being at the helm of her family, nation and Commonwealth. Interests Despite her busy programme of engagements and duties as Head of State, The Queen manages to maintain hobbies and interests away from her official work. An animal lover since childhood, her greatest passions are for horses and dogs ​ The Queen takes a keen and highly knowledgeable interest in horses. She annually attends the Derby at Epsom, one of the classic flat races in Britain, and the Summer Race Meeting at Ascot, which has been a Royal occasion since 1911. As an owner and breeder of thoroughbreds, Her Majesty often visits other race meetings to watch her horses run, and also frequently attends equestrian events. The Queen's horses have won races at Royal Ascot on a number of occasions. There was a notable double on 18 June 1954 when Landau won the Rous Memorial Stakes and a stallion called Aureole won the Hardwicke Stakes, and in 1957 The Queen had four winners during Ascot week.

The Queen also enjoys walking in the countryside and spending time with her dogs. For her eighteenth birthday, The Queen was given a Corgi named Susan from whom numerous successive dogs were bred. Some Corgis were mated with dachsunds (most notably Pipkin, who belonged to Princess Margaret) to create ‘Dorgis’, and Her Majesty has owned Corgis and Dorgis ever since. A lesser known interest is Scottish country dancing. Each year during her stay at Balmoral Castle, The Queen gives dances known as Gillies' Balls, for neighbours, estate and Castle staff and members of the local community. Charities and Patronages 1000+ images about Lord Mountbatten of Burma and family on Pinterest | David hicks, Lord and Prince charles Forward Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, The Last Viceroy of India - The Earl Mountbatten of Burma. Uncle to Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, Godfather to Prince Charles, whose own son carries the name Louis in his honor - William Philip Arthur Louis, The Prince William. Lord Mountbatten played important role during the last days of the British Raj.

In old age Mountbatten was blown up on his yacht by the IRA. See More Interesting Tour - Review of Broadlands, Romsey, England - TripAdvisor Review of Broadlands Broadlands Park, Romsey SO51 9ZD, England +44 1794 505010 More attraction details Attraction details Owner description: Built in 1767, this stately and magnificent home of Lord Mountbatten contains an extensive portrait collection, elegant furnishings and china collections. There are newer reviews for this attraction Reviewed September 2, 2015 Broadlands House is probably most recognisable as being the home of Earl Mountbatten of Burma. The house only opens for tours around July and August, so check the website for the exact dates for each year. Tours are for set times from 1pm Monday to Friday, so its best to book ahead to secure the time you want. Toilet facilities for visitors are in the visitors car park, about a 5 min stroll from the house but disabled parking can be arranged by telephoning ahead. When there has been plenty of rain, don’t wear your best shoes.

Reception is in the stables, where you are taken to a rolling DVD presentation, which includes some Earl Mountbatten footage from the TV series. You are then collected by your guide at the allotted time for your tour, lasting about 1 hour. The tours are very informative, covering many aspects of the house’s previous owners, the various re-modelling and renovations on the house and why there is mould all over the pillars outside the house. There are also some really interesting sculptures in the house. We had chosen the Exempt Items Tour (available for an even smaller part of the year), which included artefacts not normally available for public view. Interesting and only £2 extra, but I wouldn’t have been that upset not to have done that part. Photographs are not allowed inside the house and there are no refreshment facilities on-site. Additional information is available in the stables e.g. The Concise Mountbatten Family Tree. There are uneven surfaces and steps to negotiate on the tour, so check ahead to see if this tour is suitable for your mobility needs.

Its a really interesting tour and the rest of Romsey is lovely, with plenty of places to eat, so a visit to Broadlands was a very interesting part of a day out in Romsey. Visited August 2015 “No gimmicks just a lovely house without commercial trappings” Reviewed August 24, 2015 We spent a delightful couple of hours visiting Broadlands on their extended tour. The web site said there are no tea rooms, gift shops etc. the toilets facilities are located in the car park. Really refreshing visit as a result. The house has very limited opening hours weekday afternoons and for a few weeks an extended tour is offered. This is because Lady Brabourne is in residence. We had a superb guide who was very friendly and knowledgable and took us round room by room explaining it's history including previous owners including Lord Mountbatten and Lord Palmerston. It is also famous for hosting the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh on their honeymoon and more recently by Charles and Diana on theirs. The building is very much lived in and it was great to see the mix of modern and old. All the volunteers we met were very welcoming.

I really think the tour was the right length just over 90 minutes so you were not over burdened with information. Not sure the extended tour was worth the difference from the base price as only 1 extra room was visited. However this did not distract us from a very pleasant visit. Visited August 2015 1000+ images about Romsey, Hampshire UK on Pinterest | Genealogy, Royalty free stock photos and Brewery A Palladian house in a serpentine park, home to Lord Palmerston in the eighteenth century and to Lord Mountbatten in the twentieth century. See More Grounds are big - Broadlands, Romsey Traveller Reviews - TripAdvisor Reviewed 29 July 2015 via mobile We have just returned from a most pleasant 1hr guided tour around the absolutely charming Broadlands. It is clearly very much still a family home and the tour guided us around in such a way that we were made to feel very welcome. We felt very priveliged to be able to view so closely the personal affects of daily life there. We found the history of Broadlands very interesting. There is no tea room but we really didn't see the need.

A flask of tea and a picnic in the truly beautiful surroundings would be a perfect way to end a visit. We would like to add that our tour guide Richard was both engaging and informative. Visited July 2015 “Charmingly untouristy slice of English history” Reviewed 9 July 2015 I very nearly didn't go, on the basis of the large number of unenthusiastic reviews on Trip Advisor. Having made the visit, I'm delighted I made the effort. I'm really struggling to understand the basis of my co-reviewers "underwhelmed" verdicts. But if one of them can say that it's "only of interest to anyone who thinks Mountbatten was anyone of interest", then he's probably a lost cause. This is very much an under-commercialised attraction, which visitors may like or dislike. It's rarely open (weekday afternoons in the summer - no weekends). But it's very much a private house, which Lady Brabourne, an active member of the local and area community, still permanently inhabits and where she entertains (had a lunch party the day we were there) so her desire not to surrender all her privacy is understandable.

Her husband, Mountbatten's son, is still alive but doesn't live at the house. The arrival area is certainly low key. There are portable toilets in the car park, but none in the house. The path from the car park to the house is signed at 5 mins, but is nearer 2 or 3. It passes some unattractive wooden palings. There are plenty of flapping paper notices, of the "Private" and "No entry" persuasion, but the welcome at the entrance was warm enough. The lack of credit card facilities is eccentric, but the visitor numbers are very small and there are no frills whatever. What you get is an interesting tour of the ground floor (7 or 8 rooms), which takes the best part of an hour. Other reviewers made critical comments about the guide, but ours was knowledgeable and extremely affable. After the initial Palmerston ownership in the 1700's, when the house was more or less rebuilt as a Georgian manor around the shell of the earlier Jacobean property, the house has been owned by different branches of the same family ever since. It is not a beautiful building, but several of the rooms are very handsome.

Most of the inhabitants have left their mark in one way or another. there are some treasures to view, especially a pair of Van Dyck portraits and some lovely English furniture. The fact that it's still a home shines through - and the large screen television in the library doesn't therefore particularly jar, neither do the children's wellington boots under the hall table. There are plenty of Mountbatten and royal family memorabilia. It's especially strong in Indian artefacts of one sort or another, reflecting Mountbatten's career as Viceroy and Governor General. If you're fiercely republican, then this is probably not for you. But it provides a fascinating insight into a corner of British history that's not well-covered elsewhere. The grounds are simple, but there's open and unescorted access down to the (diverted) River Test, from where you get the best view of the house. There are no guidebooks and no shop through which you exit. Personally, I found this rather refreshing. Well worth a visit (but check opening times before you go).

Visited July 2015 “Prepare to be underwhelmed” Reviewed 18 February 2015 Real claim to fame for historians is as the ancestral home of Lord Palmerston. More recently lord mountbatten married the owners daughter and thus acquired the house. Currently the home of Lady Brabourne, a particularly nice lady who does a lot for organisations in Romsey. I must say though, although the House has lovely views of the River Test, my personal opinion is that it is nothing special. It is probably for this reason that it is hardly ever open , although the grounds are often used for a vast number of caravan shows, gardens shows, country fairs, etc., each year. Visited July 2014 Worth a visit - Broadlands, Romsey Traveller Reviews - TripAdvisor “Don't let the outside fool you.” Reviewed 12 August 2015 The outside of Broadlands is pretty well a rectangular box with a Greek style portico and columns tacked on each side. But the insides are far more interesting. But let's start at the beginning: You enter through the grand gates, and down the drive across parkland.

When you park you still hav'n't seen the house beyond a lot of trees - meaning a fair walk to the house. If disabled I suggest phoning ahead to check if you may drive nearer. The walk takes you past the outside of the kitchen garden wall, then you arrive at a courtyard with stable, couch-house, laundry, etc. Having paid the smiley ladies sat in the stable you wait in a coach house with a display and films about Lord Mountbatten, for he was the most famous owner of the house. Prime Minister Viscount Palmerston was another notable owner. Collected in small parties by a guide you are ushered from the front, through a series of rooms, and finally out to a place where you may explore the lawn and the passing river Test. The house is still occupied by Mountbatten's descendents, so quiet and respectful is appropriate in the rooms, which are not only magnificently decorated and furnished, but also full of paintings and photos of their relatives - like the royal family of UK (and other countries). At least one room had a ceiling with painted scenes by Anjelica Kaufman.

I loved the display of Mountbatten's ships, in diaramas set in the wall, and lit like fish tanks. The sculptures vary from ancient Greek through to modern works, imaginatively displayed. The guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. The only minor downsides were very limited opening times (understandable), and lack of any catering beyond a free water dispenser. No interior photography and no gift shop to make up the deficit with postcards and books. Visited July 2015 “Beautiful interiors” Reviewed 10 August 2015 Lovely visit to Broadlands today. I arrived late in the afternoon, was the last visitor of the day, so had excellent guide Trea to myself. The interiors are gorgeous, although outside of House a bit shabby.Probably of most interest to those interested in Royal Family. Mountbatten was gt-grandson of Q Victoria. Our present Queen & Prince Philip, and Charles & Diana spent part of honeymoons here. Shame no tea room, but understandable as House only open part of year. I went to nearby "Costa" on way back to M'way.

Only very small section of lawn going down to picturesque R Test open to public, so difficult to take a decent photo of house. If a bit more of grounds were open to public would have given 5 stars. Distance from car park to House NOT too far, as others have said, although I suppose that depends on your mobility. Good value for £8. Visited August 2015 Reviewed 6 August 2015 via mobile We were unsure about going here because of previous poor reviews. However, we were very pleasantly surprised. It does not have all the big National Trust type trimmings of shop and tea room. Rather you get a more personalised guided tour during limited visiting hours into a lived-in home rather than a visit to a museum. It does have some picnic tables and toilets around the car park in the grounds. The house has been home to both one of Queen Victoria's Prime Ministers, Lord Palmerston as well as to a cousin of Prince Philip, Lord Mountbatten. There is a good DVD of Mountbatten talking about his extended family including the Tsar and Tsarina of Russia and his close friendship with the then Prince of Wales.

Our tour was just three people and led by a friendly and informative guide Trea who took us around the ground floor rooms and told us much about the fine objects as well as providing good family contextual information. The rooms were warm and inviting, full of interesting items and many offering beautiful views across the grounds and a sizeable stretch of the River Test. For £10, I thought this was good value and provided a low key and therefore more unique visitor experience. Be lovely if they could open up more of the grounds for walkers on a regular basis. Visited August 2015

Question: Which member of the royal family was the most famous owner of the house Broadlands, in Hampshire?
Answer: Lord Louis Mountbatten